Strongest Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Playing XI against Punjab Kings (PBKS)

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side held their nerve to pip the Delhi Capitals (DC) by 1 run on 27th April 2021 to get back to winning ways. The Virat Kohli-led side has experienced a riveting start to their 2021 IPL campaign and has won 5 out of the 6 matches that they have played in the tournament. The ‘Men in Red’ are currently occupying 2nd place in the points table.

Next up, the Bangalore outfit will run into the Punjab Kings (PBKS) side, who have experienced a poor start to their 2021 IPL campaign. The KL Rahul-led outfit has triumphed in just 2 out of the 6 matches that they have played in this tournament. With RCB taking on the Punjab Kings side, let us take a look at the predicted playing XI of the RCB side for their match on 30th April 2021.

Openers: Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal

Both Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal failed to get going in Bangalore’s previous encounter against the Delhi Capitals. While the RCB skipper could score just 12 off 11 deliveries, Padikkal scored 17 runs in his 14-ball stay in the middle.

Padikkal has scored 188 runs in the tournament thus far, including a match-winning century against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). As far as Kohli is concerned, even though he has not exactly set the tournament ablaze, the batting legend has been in decent form in the 2021 edition of the IPL and has scored 163 runs at an average of 32.60.

Middle Order: Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers

Rajat Patidar finally got amongst the runs in RCB’s previous clash against the Delhi Capitals (DC). The right-hander scored 31 off 22 deliveries to lay the platform for the other batsmen to follow.

AB de Villiers’ dexterity and mastery absolutely left the Delhi Capitals (DC) scratching their heads on 27th April 2021. The batting legend scored 75* off just 42 deliveries and played a key role in the ‘Men in Red’ registering their 5th victory in the tournament.

Glenn Maxwell was amongst the runs as well. Even though he could not kick on and get a big score, Maxwell got a start and helped himself to 25 off 20 deliveries. The RCB middle order is in decent form, and even if one out of de Villiers or Maxwell goes berserk, then Punjab will have a tough day on the field.

All Rounders: Washington Sundar, Daniel Sams, and Kyle Jamieson

Washington Sundar bowled a decent spell in RCB’s previous encounter against the Delhi Capitals (DC). The 21-year-old spinner bowled 4 overs, gave away 28 runs, but could not pick up a wicket. Daniel Sams too, could not have a major impact in RCB’s previous encounter.

The left-arm seamer bowled a couple of overs, and gave away 15 runs, but did not scalp any wicket. Tall Kiwi pacer Kyle Jamieson gave away 32 runs in the 4 overs that he bowled and picked up the crucial wicket of Shikhar Dhawan.

Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mohammed Siraj

Even though Harshal Patel was on the expensive side in RCB’s last match against Delhi Capitals, the right arm pacer scalped the 2 important wickets of Prithvi Shaw and Marcus Stoinis. Yuzvendra Chahal bowled a couple of overs, and did a tidy job, conceding 10 runs.

Even though Mohammed Siraj conceded 44 runs in his quota of 4 overs in the clash against Delhi Capitals, (DC) he rose to the occasion when his team demanded him to, in the final over of the match. Siraj conceded 12 runs in the final over and considering the fact that the Delhi side needed 14 runs to win and Shimron Hetmyer and Rishabh Pant were threatening to take the match away from RCB’s grasp, Siraj did a decent job.